Doctor couple injured in West Bengal's Kasba elevator crash

KOLKATA: A doctor couple was seriously injured when the cable of the elevator the two were travelling in snapped, resulting in the carriage plunging 40 ft to the ground. The two physicians, Anirban Mitra (55) and Chaitali Mitra (52) have been hospitalised with severe injuries to their legs and spine. One of them is on ventilat-ion support.
The building where the mishap happened is owned by the couple who live on the fourth floor.
The incident happened around 12.30pm on Monday when the elevator of the residential-cum-commercial building was on the third floor. The couple who were in the carriage suddenly felt a jerk as the cable broke. A split second later, the carriage went hurtling down the shaft in a free-fall and crashed into the ground floor pit.
While both have suffered serious injuries, Chaitali’s condition is critical and she has been put on ventilation support, doctors attending on her said. She suffered grade IV haemorrhagic shock. There is a compound fracture in both lower limbs with probable neurovascular injury. The initial fast scan does not show any intra-abdominal bleeding, said hospital sources.
Anirban suffered a haemorrhagic shock and had fractures on both ankles. He had a lacerated deep-cut injury on his left ankle with bone/tendon exposed. There is a puncture wound on the right toe. He is also suffering from severe lower back pain and is unable to move his left lower limb. No abdominal trauma though was found.
A team of doctors, including critical care, orthopaedic, general surgeon, gynaecologist, and neurosurgergon is treating them.
Though the building is nearly 20 years old, the elevator that crashed was installed only three years ago. Sources said it had not been serviced since then. Access to the lift was not limited to the owners. “Everyone visiting the nursing home used it,” said an employee of the facility.
According to the staff present at the scene, the elevator snapped while the two were returning from work and heading up to their fourth floor apartment.
“A probe is going on and authorities concerned will determine the exact cause of accident,” said an officer at city police headquarters.